Falling For Him. [Book One ]

.:: Chapter Two - The Ring of Power ::.

The party has been going on for a while and the two girls were having fun with everyone, dancing, making jokes and telling the children fairy tale stories.

Until it was time for Bilbo's speech, and the two girls looked at each other knowingly. Everyone chanted for him to do a speech and he looked shocked, but nonetheless stood up in front of everyone, clearing his throat.

"My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots" he started, looking at everyone sadly. 

"Proudfeet!" An old proudfoot hobbit yelled out, causing everyone to laugh a little. Bilbo smiled at that and continued, his eyes landing on Frodo's face. "Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday!" Everyone cheered loudly and chanted happy birthday with many smiles on their faces.

"Happy Birthday!" "Happy Birthday!"

"Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits." Cheers erupted again, laughter and drunkards clinking their pints together. "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." There is a dead silence from the crowd. They gaze at each other blank-faced, trying to figure out if they were just insulted. Gandalf smiles.

"I, uh, I h-have things to do." He fidgets with the Ring behind his back. Bilbo whispers to himself "I've put this off for far too long."  But the girls heard him with their new upgraded hearing aid.

"I regret to announce — this is The End. I am going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell."  Bilbo looks towards Frodo sadly, and Frodo notices, looking confused. "This is farewell" he whispered to him and disappeared, slipping the ring on his finger.

The girls and Gandalf follow the sound of footsteps as their invisible owner heads for home. At Bag End, the front door opens and then shuts again, as if by magic. Inside the hall, Bilbo re-appears.

"Hahahahaha!" Bilbo laughs and flips the ring, catches it and puts it in his pocket. He jumped when he heard Gandalf behind him. "I suppose you think that was terribly clever" Bilbo turned around and sighs, then glancing at the female elves behind him. Bilbo looked back at Gandalf and laughed, "Come on Gandalf! Did you see their faces?"

"There are many magic rings in this world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly." Gandalf was referring to the ring that was in the Hobbit's pocket, suspicion in his eyes. "It was just a bit of fun! Oh you're probably right, as usual. You will keep an eye on Frodo, won't you?" Bilbo said the last bit with great sadness in his voice, his heart hurt of leaving Frodo, but it must be done. "And you girls too, please watch over him" he pleaded, a frown on his face.

Mia and Adelle nodded, promising him that they will protect and watch over him with their lives, if any danger comes to the Shire.

"Two eyes — as often as I can spare them." Gandalf spoke, walking over to the table and in front of Bilbo that was packing his things for his adventure. "I'm leaving everything to him." He starts to pack various items into his travelling pack.

"What about this ring of yours, is that staying too?" Bilbo froze at those words and his hand went towards his pocket, in shock. Mia looked and felt the power coming from the ring, making her head spin and dizzy. Adelle noticed and put a hand on her friend's shoulder, concerned. "Mia?"

"I'm fine, I just need a glass of water" she replied a few minutes later, a hand to her head and Gandalf noticed her sudden change. But he needed to confirm his theory on whether the ring is the ring of power or not. He turned back to Bilbo and frowned slightly.